Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, Jan 5: Amazon on Wednesday announced that it will lay off over 18,000 employees from its workforce citing `the economic uncertainty’ and the fact that the online retail giant had ‘hired rapidly’ during the pandemic.
“Between the reductions we made in November and the ones we’re sharing today, we plan to cut more than 18,000 roles. Several teams are impacted; however, the majority of role eliminations are in our Amazon Stores and PXT organizations,” said CEO Andy Jassy in a statement.
Our CEO Andy Jassy just shared a message to Amazon employees. https://t.co/cw5Dl6WY84
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) January 5, 2023
Jassey said the company’s management was ‘deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly or underestimate how much they might affect the lives of those who are impacted’.
“Amazon is working to help those affected by offering packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support,” he added.
Earlier in November 2022, Amazon cut about 10,000 jobs, primarily in the Devices and Books businesses, and also announced a voluntary layoff offer for some employees in its People, Experience, and Technology (PXT) roles.
The company will contact the impacted workers or (representative bodies for Europe) starting on January 18. He said the sudden announcement was being made because ‘because one of our teammates leaked this information externally’.
“Amazon has navigated an uncertain and difficult economy in the past, and we will continue to do so,” said Jassy.
The retailer had indeed hired with a vengeance during the pandemic to meet an explosion in demand for deliveries, doubling its global staff between the beginning of 2020 and the beginning of 2022.
The group had 1.54 million employees worldwide at the end of September, excluding seasonal workers hired during periods of increased activity, particularly during the holiday season.
